Keel-block.



S. N. SHEELY.

KEEL BLOCK.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 26, I91?- 1 %53,5%@n Patented Jan. 15, 1918.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY secret or recas town. VLIBQQFNIA- KEEL' IiQ K' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. to, than...

Application filed June 26, 1917. Serial No. 177,105.

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it'known that I, SAMUEL N. Stream, a citizen of the United States, residing at Portsmouth, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in KcelBlocks, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to keel blocks capable of supporting ships during the building construction thereof, and. designed primarily to produce means for preventing. any. accidental lateral movement of the blocks with respect to the core section, during the action of removing the blocks front beneath the ship when the same is complete for launching.

The primary object 'of the invention, among other features, contemplates the production of a block embodying a novel form of core, which affords the operation of the blocks at the proper time without necessitating the service of a considerable number of laborers.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a keel block, which, aside from overcoming the necessity of the em ploymcnt of a large force ofv laborers, is simple in construction, durable and efficient in use and may be quickly and expeditiously removed from beneath the keel. at the proper time.

\Vith the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel features, details of construction and combination of parts W1lCl1 will. hereinafter be more fully set forth, illustrated. in the accompanying lrawing and pointed out in the appended claims.

Figure l is a perspective view of the keel block with the keel shown in dotted lines;

Fig. 2 is an end view;

3 is a perspective view of the core;

anc

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line H of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, wherein is illustrated the preferred embodiment of the invention, the keel block generally is denoted by the character 5 embodying a support or cross section 6 of substantially diamond-shape presenting the same on the upper and lower portions thereof with longitudinally extending inclined faces 7 and 8 respectively, the faces on both the upper and lower portions of the core tapering from the transverse center thereof engage in a dove-tailed recess 14: provided in each of the plurality of movable members 1.5. The movable members in this particular instance are of substantially wedgeshaped form and having their confronting faces gradually tapering from the outer ends 16 thereof in a direction toward the meeting ends 17, consequently, when the wedges are is assembled position, a pair of these members will be slidably reposed upon the respective inclined faces 7 and 8 of the core member. Provided in the outer end of each wedge or movableblock member 15, is a substantially U-shaped recess 1.8, which, when the blocks are in assembled form, will provide at the ends of the core member a substantially rectangular guide-way 19 in which is loosely mounted a connecting plate 20 provided centrally with a threaded aperture 21. Due to the fact that the adjusting screw 10 exceeds the length of the core member 6, permits of the reversely threaded ends 22 thereof to threadedly engage in the aperture 21 of the connecting plate 20, hence, when the building construction of the ship is completed and the launching of the vessel is desired, by manipulating the adjusting screw 10, will cause the blocks or members 15 to simultaneously move in a longitudinal direction with respect to the core member and displace the blocks from contact with the keel of the ship. Furthermore, by the provision of the tongue and groove connection denoted respectively by the characters 13 and 14k, prevents the wedges or block members 15 from moving laterally with respect to the core during the manipulation of the adjusting screw 10.

From the fore oing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the advantages of construction and the method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which thereof, I desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and

that such changesmay be made whende sired as are within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is 1. In. a device of the class described, comprising a core provided with a longitudinal and a transverse bore intersecting-one another at the transverse center of the core, a plurality of movable wedges mounted on said core, a bearing in the transverse bore of the core, and an adjusting screw journaled in said bearing and located in the longitudinal bore of the core for effecting the adjustment of the members in a longitudinal direction of the core.

" 2. In a device of the class described, comprising a diamond-shaped core, provided with a longitudinal and a transverse bore intersecting one another at the transverse center of the core, a plurality of movable wedges mounted on said core, a bearing in the transverse bore of the core, and an adjusting screw journaled in said bearing and located in the longitudinal bore of the core for effecting the adjustment of the members longitudinally of and in a direction toward the tree transverse edges of the core.

3. In a device of the class described, comprising a diamond-shaped core provided with a longitudinal and a transverse bore intersecting one another at the transverse center of the core, a plurality of movable wedges mounted on said core, a bearing in the transverse bore of the core, an adjusting screw journaled in said bearing and located in the longitudinal bore of the core tor efi'ecting the adjustment of the members longitudinally of and in a direction toward wedge-shaped members in a direction laterally of the core. I 4. In a device of the class describechcomprising a diamond-shaped core provided with a bore, an adjusting screw of a length exceeding the length of the bore being mounted within the borethereof positioning the extremities thereof beyond the free transverse edges of said core, the'extended extremities of the adjusting screw being oppositely threaded, a plurality of wedgeshaped members movably mounted on said core, and-means loosely mounted in the ends of the wedgesnnd in which the reverse threaded endsof the adjusting screw engage for imparting a spreading or contracting action to the wedge-shaped members.

5. I11 a'device of the class described,'comprising a diamond-shaped core provided with a bore, an adjusting screw of-a length exceeding the length of the bore being mounted within the bore thereof positioning the extremities thereof beyond the free transverse edges of said core, the extended extremities of the adjusting screw being oppositely threaded, a plurality of wedge shaped members movably mounted on sand core, and means loosely mounted in the ends of the wedges and in which the reverse threaded ends of the adjusting screw engage for imparting a spreading or contracting action to the wedge-shaped members, said last named means further producing a simultaneous operation of said wedgeshaped members upon the manipulation of the adjusting screw. 7

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature.

SAMUEL N. SHEELY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioners! Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

